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Smigelski: I use a wee bit different approach than scotty. If there is no end to end movement on steering shaft and if there is no roughness when turning the steering wheel, your steering shaft, bearings and worm are fine, and I wouldn't touch the big acorn nut-plug. I've been tinkering with these close to 50 years, have never had a steering shaft out of the steering box. Most steering wheel free travel occurs on the vertical shaft. The steering control arm fits on tapered portion of shaft, held there by a bit nut just above the axle. That can be loose. The shaft is keyed to the control arm with a woodruff key. Inside the steering box the half gear is also keyed to that same shaft by another woodruff key. Usually those two woodruff keys are the problem. If in bad enough condition the keys can give close to a turn and half free travel on steering wheel. Quite often one will find the keyways on the shaft are damaged. These parts are quite expensive to buy used and when I did my last one new parts were not available. I think the aftermarket is turning out new shaft, maybe gear and control arm. Either way these parts will run you $500. On my last two the gear and control arm looked quite good but the shaft keyway was close to 50% larger at surface and tapered to the bottom of keyway. I took larger woodruff keys and ground them to a hydraulic press fit for the gear. The big nut will draw the control arm on. I looked at these shafts as being toast anyhow. On my Super A I welded the keys in the shaft, then ground it to a press fit. I put my 130 together without welding keys in shaft. I wish I had taken the time to weld 130 shaft to keys as well. That was 1991 and my Super A is tight as when new. 16 years later I'm now having to consider doing the 130 again. This key system was one weakness of that steering box. I also considered going to a machine shop have them cut larger keyways in shaft, gear and control arm. That in itself would have substancial cost and I'm not sure it would make it better. I do think if the woodruff keys were as long as gear and control arm are thick, it should be stronger. Whether enough stronger, I can't say. I am happy with my results, even the 130. Up until 5 years ago these tractors were working enough to each burn 500 IMP gallons of gas each and every year.
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